Shelving connector

ABSTRACT

A sleeve for a shelving unit has two halves joined together to form two support tabs extending outward from opposing sides of the sleeve as the sleeve clamps around a post having grooves into which a rib on the sleeve fits to hold the parts relative to the post. The support tabs have a retaining flange offset from the sleeve, at each of two opposing sides of each sleeve. A first collar part fastened to a shelf fits over half the sleeve and fits into that offset so that a slot in the first collar part fits over two abutting support tabs to clamp them together and wedge the sleeve against the post to support the first collar part and shelf. Each retaining flange has a latch portion on its outer surface that engages a mating latch portion on the abutting support tab prevent lateral separation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/669,223 filed May 9, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a support structure that can be used to support shelving or other elements for carrying or supporting any desired item on a post. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support assembly for use in, for example, a knock-down shelving system to adjustably support shelves on the post.

Current knock-down shelving systems include a plurality of support posts for supporting one or more shelves at corner support assemblies thereof. These shelving systems have a sleeve or wedge member and an encircling collar both adapted to be secured to a generally cylindrical support post having a circular cross-section. The sleeve has an inner surface that is configured to embrace the support post and has an outer surface that is wedge shaped usually taking the form of a frusto-conical shape with a narrower diameter at the top and a larger diameter at the bottom. The collar has an outer surface that is secured to a shelf. The collar has an internal wedge surface formed to mate with the frusto-conical wedge surface of the sleeve but either inclined in the opposing direction or having a smaller upper opening which does not allow passage of the sleeve on the post. Thus, when the sleeve embraces the post and the collar embraces the sleeve, axial loading of the collar in one direction causes the collar's inward facing wedge surface to mate with the outward facing wedge surface on the sleeve, thereby urging the sleeve toward the post. Since the collar is restrained from radial expansion and has a fixed diameter, and since relative movement of the inclined surfaces of the sleeve and the collar want to increase in diameter as they move relative to one another in axially opposing directions, the non-expandable outer collar forces the sleeve inward and clamps the sleeve against the post and wedges the collar and sleeve into place on the post.

Such shelving systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,314,098, and Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2017/0065078 and 2017/0224106. Various ones of these disclosures use two-part plastic sleeves with offset retaining members configured so that a metal collar on a corner of a shelving unit fits between the sleeve and the retaining member to hold the two-parts of the sleeve together on a cylindrical post passing through the middle of the assembled sleeves. The two sleeve parts are temporarily held together by a circumferentially extending member and fits into a correspondingly shaped circumferential recess. The temporary connection restrains vertical movement along the longitudinal axis of the post encircled by the two sleeve parts, but does not prevent the sleeve parts from moving laterally or radially apart. Thus, the two sleeve parts move easily in a radial direction and are easily separated. The user may thus have difficulty getting the sleeve parts to remain on the post long enough to lock the sleeve parts together by engaging the shelf with the retaining member on the sleeves. There is thus a need for an improved sleeve and connector design that makes it more difficult to separate the sleeve parts while not impeding the connector and sleeve functions.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A sleeve for a shelving unit has two parts joined together to form a sleeve body with a longitudinal passage and a tapered outer surface. Each sleeve half has a support tab extending outward from each opposing side of the sleeve. The outwardly extending support tabs each having a vertically extending retaining flange offset from the outer surface of the body of the sleeve. The sleeve parts abut each other along the support tabs and retaining flanges. A first collar part fastened to a shelf, fits over part of each sleeve half and fits into that offset so that a slot in the first collar part fits over one of the support tabs on each sleeve half to clamp the two sleeve parts toward the post and support the first collar part and shelf. The collar part fits between the adjacent retaining flanges and the sleeve body of two different sleeve parts and the keeps the collar part from moving off the support tabs engaged by the collar part. A second collar part with a second slot may fit over the other support tabs to hold them together and to support a second shelf or to further clamp the sleeve parts to the post.

In order to hold the two sleeve parts together while the collar parts are inserted between the retaining flanges and the sleeve bodies to clamp the sleeve parts to the post, each sleeve half has one male engaging part (e.g., a latch) on a circumferentially extending, male latch portion and each sleeve half has one female engaging part (e.g., a catch) on a circumferentially extending female latch portion configured to releasably engage the male latch portion. The engaged latch portions prevent radial movement or disengagement of the sleeve parts. A radial gap between the distal end of the male latch portion and the adjacent end of the female latch portion allows a user's finger to release the engaged latches and separate the sleeve parts radially.

The collar parts are preferably interlocked. One means for interlocking the collar parts comprises outwardly extending flanges on one collar part being received in a second collar part, preferably with the male flanges received in a U-shaped groove of the second collar part to engage along a length of the male flange and prevent lateral separation. A second means for interlocking collar parts comprises slotted tabs on each collar part where the juncture of an outwardly extending tab has a slot extending along a length of the juncture so the slots of one collar part fit over the juncture of a mating collar part to interlock the collar parts with the mating flanges restraining lateral separation. In addition to preventing lateral separation, the mating flanges restrain rotation about two axes when one of the collar parts is fixe to a shelf or through the cooperation of the post.

There is thus advantageously provided an improved sleeve for a shelving unit having a collar that wedges the sleeve against a post of the shelving unit during use in order to position the sleeve and collar part along a length of the post. The post has a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a plurality of grooves encircling the post and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The improved sleeve may include a first sleeve half having a top and bottom and first and second opposing sides that are in substantially the same plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis during use. The first sleeve half may further include: (a) a cylindrical interior surface with at least one inwardly extending, first circumferential rib where the cylindrical surface is configured to abut the post and encircle about half of the post during use. The rib is configured to fit into one of the grooves in the post during use; (b) a frusto-conical exterior surface on the first sleeve half; (c) first and second support tabs extending radially outward a short distance at the respective first and second sides of the first sleeve half and located at the bottom of the first sleeve half; (d) first and second retaining flanges, each extending upward from a different one of the respective first and second support tabs and along the exterior surface of the first sleeve half and offset therefrom by the support tab from which the retaining flange extends; (e) a first male latch part extending from the first retaining flange and extending forward of the first side, where the first latch part has a distal end and also has a male engaging head intermediate the distal end and the first side; (f) a second female latch part in a rearward portion of the second retaining flange, where the second latch part has an engaging recess configured to receive the male engaging head during use and restrain relative movement of the first and second latch parts when they are engaged.

In further variations, the improved sleeve half has a first latch part that extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and extends from a top portion of the first retaining flange. Moreover, the second latch part may be formed in a top portion of the second retaining flange. Additionally, the male engaging head may comprises a rib parallel to the longitudinal axis during use. The rib advantageously extends across a height of the first latch part measured along the longitudinal axis, and has a cross-sectional shape of a right triangle, with the short leg of the right triangle oriented substantially radially.

The improved sleeve half may also include a locking tab extending forward from the first side and located at least partially above the first support tab. the improved sleeve half may further include a locking recess in the second side and located at least partially above the second support tab and configured to receive the locking tab. The improved sleeve half my also include a locking tab that extends forward from one of the first and second sides and is located at least partially above the support tabs, and further comprising a locking recess in the other of the first and second sides, the locking recess located above the support tabs and configured to receive the locking tab.

1. The sleeve of claim 6, further comprising: a second sleeve half having a top and bottom and first and second opposing sides that are in substantially the same plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis during use, the second sleeve half further comprising:

a cylindrical interior surface with at least one inwardly extending, second circumferential rib, that cylindrical surface being configured to abut the post and encircle about half of the post during use with the second circumferential rib configured to fit into one of the grooves in the post during use;

a frusto-conical exterior surface;

first and second support tabs extending radially outward a short distance at the respective first and second sides of the second sleeve half, at the bottom of the second sleeve half;

first and second retaining flanges extending upward from the a different one of respective first and second support tabs of the second sleeve half and extending along the exterior surface of the second sleeve half and offset therefrom by the support tab from which the retaining flange extends;

a first male latch part extending from the first retaining flange and extending forward of the first side of the second sleeve half, the first latch part having a distal end and having a male engaging head intermediate the distal end and the first side of the second sleeve half;

a second female latch part in a rearward portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve half, that second latch part having an engaging recess configured to receive the male engaging head of the first latch part of the first sleeve half during use and restrain relative movement of the first and second latch parts when they are engaged.

wherein the first male latch part of the first collar part is configured to engage the first female latch part of the second collar part when the first and second collar parts abut the post during use, and wherein the first female latch part on the first collar part is configured to engage the first male latch part of the second collar part when the first and second collar part abut the post during use.

2. The sleeve of claim 7, wherein the second male latch part of the second sleeve half extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and extends from a top portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve part, and wherein the second latch part of the second sleeve half is formed in a top portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve half. 3. The sleeve of claim 7, further comprising a lip extending outward from the bottom of each sleeve half: 4. A shelving joint using the sleeve of claim 7, further comprising: an annular collar having first and second separable and interlocking collar parts defining a frusto-conical interior passage extending along the longitudinal axis when joined together, the interior passage sized to engage the outer surface of the first and second sleeve halves during use, each collar part extending about half way around the longitudinal axis, each collar part having a top and bottom with the bottom forming a larger diameter of the conical interior passage, with a closed ended slot extending through each collar part and extending along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom of each collar part, each closed ended slot located and configured to engage a different one of the locking tabs on each of the first and second sleeve halves during use, one of the collar parts being connected to a shelf. 5. The shelving joint of claim 10, wherein the interlocking collar parts comprise a male flange having opposing sides and extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the first collar part and extending along a substantial length of each collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each male flange having a thickness T between opposing sides of the flange and extending outward a distance between about 3 T and 10 T; and a female channel extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extending along a substantial length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each female channel having an open bottom configured to slidably receive a different one of the male flanges during use, each female channel extending along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use. 6. The shelving joint of claim 10, wherein the interlocking collar parts further comprise interlocking means on each of the first and second collar parts for preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis during use, one of the collar parts being connected to a shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages and features of the invention will be better appreciated in view of the following drawings and descriptions in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A is perspective view of a shelving unit with a sleeve and collar at each corner of the shelf;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the sleeve and collar taken at 1B-1B of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A a side view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1A, with the opposing side view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged perspective view of the sleeve and collar taken at 2B-2B of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A a front view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1A, with the opposing back view being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of the sleeve and collar taken at 3B-3B of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of two sleeve parts latched together;

FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the two sleeve parts of FIG. 4A before being latched together;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of two sleeve parts latched together and two collar parts locked together;

FIG. 5b is an exploded perspective view of two sleeve parts latched together with one collar part on the sleeve parts;

FIG. 5c is a perspective view of the sleeve parts latched together with two collar parts locked together on the sleeve parts.

FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of two sleeve parts adjacent a shelving post;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the post of FIG. 6A with the sleeve parts latched to the post;

FIG. 6C is a side view of the post of FIG. 6B, showing one of the latched sleeve parts face-on;

FIG. 6D is a side view of the post of FIG. 6D showing the side of two latches;

FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of two sleeve parts latched together, taken from a first side of the sleeve parts;

FIG. 7B is a top perspective view of two latched sleeve parts of FIG. 7A, rotated about one quarter turn about the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 7C is a bottom perspective view of the latched sleeve parts of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7D is a bottom perspective view of the latched sleeve parts of FIG. 7B;

FIG. 8A is a side view of the sleeve parts of FIG. 7A showing two of the latched sleeves face-on;

FIG. 8B is a top view of the two latched sleeve parts of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a bottom view of the two latched sleeve parts of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8D is a left side view of the two latched sleeve parts of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8E is a right side view of the two latched sleeve parts of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a top perspective view of a sleeve part, taken from a first side of a first sleeve part, the second sleeve part has the same construction but is rotated a half turn around the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 9B is a top perspective view of the sleeve part of FIG. 9A, rotated about one quarter turn about the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 9C is a bottom perspective view of the part of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9D is a bottom perspective view of the sleeve part of FIG. 9B;

FIG. 10A is a front view of the sleeve part of FIG. 7A showing the inside of the sleeve part, face-on;

FIG. 10B is a top view of the sleeve part of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a bottom view of the sleeve part of FIG. 10;

FIG. 10D is a left side view of the sleeve part of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10E is a right side view of the sleeve part of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is an exploded perspective view of two sleeve halves of FIGS. 4A-4B, with a second embodiment of interlocking collar parts; and

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the two sleeve halves and collar of FIG. 11A, assembled;

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a first sleeve part ready to engage a second sleeve part and encircle a post (not shown); and

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of a second sleeve part ready to engage the first sleeve part of FIG. 12A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-12, and especially to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, a connector of the present invention is described as used in a knock-down shelving system. The connector is preferably used in a shelving system that generally includes a plurality of support posts 12 which are preferably cylindrical, that is, that are generally circular in radial cross-section, but which could have other cross-sectional shapes. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, four such posts 12 are arranged to support one or more shelves 14 at corner assemblies thereof. The shelves 14 are typically wire frame shelves having corners connected to outer collar parts 16 of the connectors 10 to form shelving assemblies which are located at various elevations on the post 12 to form shelving assemblies. The shelves 14 are typically welded to collar parts 16 if the shelves and collars are of metal, but various connecting methods may be used. If the shelves and collars are of plastics, the parts may be integrals molded at the same time, or the collars 16 may be bonded to the shelf 14 by adhesives, ultrasonic bonding or other methods. The shelves 14 are preferably in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 18.

As used herein the relative terms above and below, upper and lower, top and bottom are with respect to the relative positions along the longitudinal axis 18 of a post 12, which is typically in the vertical direction. The relative terms inward and outward, inner and outer are the relative directions toward and away from that axis 18 when the parts are orientated in the assembled position. The terms circumferential and radial refers to the circumferential and radial directions about axis 18 when the parts are mated to post 12 during use of the shelving connector. These terms are provided with respect to the normal horizontal orientation of shelves and the vertical orientation of posts as shown in the attached figures. The orientation of the shelving unit may change and if so the orientation of the actual unit may be transposed to correspond with the orientation of the figures for easier and consistent understanding.

The collars 16 compress sleeves 20 inward toward posts 12 and are believed to wedge against the sleeves against the post to form a friction lock with the post. The collars 16 are usually split into two parts 16 a, 16 b but need not be so. If split into two parts the collar part 16 a is on the shelving unit 14 while the collar part 16 b is used to further lock the sleeves 20 and shelves in place. The sleeves 20 are formed of two, split sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b which are preferably the same part, with one sleeve half 20 b rotated half a turn about the axis of post 12 to mate with the other sleeve half 20 a. The sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b each have an interior surface 22 and opposing exterior surface 24. The interior surface 22 is sized and configured to conform to about half of the outer surface of post 12. In the preferred embodiment post 12 is cylindrical so inner surface 22 is about half of a cylindrical with a diameter about the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of post 12. Surface 22 encircles about half the post 12, and preferably slightly less than half. Outer surface 24 is slightly tapered like a cone, narrower in diameter at the top and larger in diameter at the bottom so that the outer surface of sleeve 20 is frusto-conical. A slight taper of about 1-5 degrees is believed suitable, with about 2-3 degrees taper being preferred.

The sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b each have two opposing, first and second sides with the inner side abutting the post during use and being generally vertical. The arc subtended between each first and second side is preferably slightly less than 180° so the sleeve halves may be squeezed toward each other by the collar parts 16 a, 16 b and squeezed tightly against the post 12 during use.

Each sleeve half 20 a, 20 b has an inwardly extending, circumferential rib 26 a sized and configured to mate with a corresponding circumferential groove 26 b (FIGS. 4 and 6) in the outer surface of post 12. While two ribs 26 a are shown, more ribs can be used, but preferably few in number and most preferably 2 or 3 ribs. If the sleeve halves have more than one circumferential rib 26 a the ribs are spaced apart along a length parallel to axis 18 at regular intervals which correspond to the distance between grooves 26 b in the posts 12. The mating circumferential ribs 26 a and grooves 26 b are preferably semicircular in cross-section, but other cross-sectional shapes can be used.

Each sleeve half 20 a, 20 b is the same, with sleeve half 20 b rotated 180° about vertical axis 18 to mate with the sleeve half 20 a. Thus, a sleeve half 20 in the orientation shown in FIG. 9A could mate with the sleeve half 20 in the orientation shown in FIG. 9B, and a sleeve half 20 in the orientation shown in FIG. 9C could mate with the sleeve half 20 in the orientation of FIG. 9D. As the parts of each sleeve half 20 are the same, they are referred to herein by the part number both with and without the further designation of an “a” or “b” to denote the parts on sleeve half 20 a or sleeve half 20 b.

Each sleeve half 20 has at least one support tab 30 extending outward from a bottom portion of the sleeve half and extending radially outward from each of the two, generally vertical sides, so there are first and second support tabs 30 a, 30 b on each sleeve half. The support tabs 30 preferably extend radially outward a short distance D1 about 2-3 mm, but the distance will vary depending on the thickness of the collar part 16 a, 16 b which fits into that short distance to wedge the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b against the post 12 during use. The short distance of the offset is thus about the same as the thickness of the collar part abutting or adjacent to the bottom of the support tab 30, adjacent lip 33. The support tabs 30 preferably extend around a portion of the outer circumference of the sleeve a distance D2 of about 3 mm (about ⅛ inch), but that distance will vary with the load capacity to be carried, the materials and other factors. In the depicted embodiment, the support tabs 30 have a height H along axis 18 of about 20 mm (about ⅞ inch), but that distance may vary. The support tabs 30 are preferably molded with the remainder of sleeve 30 and thus have a slight taper with the tabs 30 being larger at the bottom of the sleeve and smaller toward the top of the sleeve. At the bottom of the sleeve the width of each tab 30 a, 30 b is such that it subtends an arc of about 10°. As seen in FIGS. 4-9, the resulting sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b have a bottom portion that is much thicker at the location of the support tabs 30 and retention flange 32.

The outward ends of support tabs 30 extend upward to form a retaining flange 32. The retaining flanges preferably are curved and inclined to be generally parallel with the adjacent portion of the outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20. In the depicted embodiment each retaining flange 32 subtends an arc of about 25-30°. The support tabs 30 offset the retaining flanges 32 from the outer surface 24. In the depicted embodiment there is an increase in thickness of about 3 to 4 times the nominal wall thickness of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b. That increased thickness preferably extends from about ⅓ to about ½ the height of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b at the location of the support tabs 30. The retaining flanges 32 preferably extend upward a distance of about ⅕ to ⅔ the height of the sleeve 20 measured along axis 18, but preferably extend upwards a distance about ⅓ to ½ the height of the sleeve 20.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7-9, each of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b may have a lip 33 extending along the bottom edge of each sleeve half 20 a, 20 b, preferably along a peripheral circumference corresponding to that of the retaining flange 32. The lip 33 advantageously extends around the entire periphery of the sleeve's bottom and more preferably extends between the inward facing surface of the retaining flange 32 and the facing surface of the sleeve 20. The collar 16 may rest against the lip 33 during use. Alternatively, the lip 33 may extend only between the retaining flange 32 and the adjacent surface of the sleeve 20, being further joined to the outwardly extending support tab 30 a or 30 b. Thus, the support tab 30 may have a larger, first axial length along the straight side of the sleeve and a much reduced axial length along lip 33 which extends from that straight side of the sleeve and curves around the periphery. The lip 33 thus connects the bottom of the sleeve to the bottom of the retaining flange 32 and support tab 30 and forms a hollow area behind the retention flange 32 within which the collar part 16 a, 16 b fits during use and against which the collar 16 may abut during use.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7-9, extending tangentially from the one side of sleeve half 20 a is a locking tab 34. The locking tab 34 is shown as rectangular in cross-sectional shape with a bottom edge of the locking tab 34 adjacent the top surface of the support tab 30 a. The locking tab 34 is thus at about the middle of one substantially straight side of the sleeve 20 a, 20 b. On the opposing substantially straight side of the sleeve 20 (sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b) is a locking recess 36 configured to receive the locking tab 34. The depicted locking recess 36 is thus rectangular in shape to receive the rectangular locking tab 34, and the locking recess 36 has a bottom adjacent the outwardly extending support tab 30 b. The recess 36 is preferably a slot in the outer surface of the sleeve half 30 a or 30 b sized to receive the locking tab 34.

Referring to FIGS. 4a -4 e, the other sleeve half 20 b has a locking tab 34 and locking recess 36 on the opposite sides as does the sleeve half 20 a. As the parts are the same but one is rotated half a turn during use, no description of the part is provided. When the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are put together the interior wall 22 of the sleeve defines a cylindrical passage to encircle and abut post 12 during use, and the two locking tabs 34 mate with the locking recesses 36 to hold the parts together.

The locking tabs 34 and mating locking recesses 36 are preferably configured to form a snap-fit or friction fit to releasably hold the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b together. The locking tabs 34 may be tangential from the curve of sleeve 30, but preferably curves about axis 18 with the same curvature as either of the sleeves 30 a, 30 b and the recesses 36 may have abut walls with a conforming curve. The locking tabs and recesses 34, 36 prevent relative movement of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b along the direction of the longitudinal axis 18. In the depicted embodiment, the locking tabs 34 have a cross section about 2 mm thick by about 10 mm high and extend from the substantially straight side of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b a distance of about 4 mm. The locking recesses are preferably slightly deeper than the length of the locking tabs 34, with a depth of about 5 mm believed suitable when the locking tab 34 extends about 4 mm from the straight side of the sleeve.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 7-9, the locking tabs 34 and mating recesses 36 restrain vertical movement of sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b relative to each other along longitudinal axis 18, but allow a user to pull the sleeves halves apart laterally, along a radial axis or outer obliquely inclined direction away from the axis 18. Mating, male and female latch parts 100 a, 102 a respectively on each sleeve half 20 a, engage corresponding latch part 102 b, 100 b the other sleeve half 20 b, to latch the sleeve halves together and restrain separation of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b along axes other than along the direction of longitudinal axis 18.

In the depicted embodiment, male latch part 100 a extends circumferentially from the distal end of locking tab 32 a on a first side of the sleeve half 20 a, and extends a distance beyond a plane passing through the opposing sides of the sleeve half 20 a and parallel to axis 18. The male latch part 100 a is adjacent the locking recess 36 but extends in a circumferential direction opposite the adjacent locking recess 36 and at a location radially outward from the locking recess. The male latch part 100 a has an engaging head 104 a extending inward toward axis 18 at a location between the side of the sleeve part 20 a from which the male latch part 100 a extends, to form a manually accessible distal end 106 a. The distal end 106 a preferably extends about 25° of arc beyond the plane through the opposing end faces of the sleeve half 20 a, which end faces are each facing in the same direction. The engaging head 104 is preferably located about 15° of arc beyond those end faces. The engaging head 104 a preferably comprises a rib extending across most and preferably all of the height of the latch part 100. The rib preferably has a cross-section that is a right-triangle, with the short leg of that right-triangular cross-section preferably engaging the female latch part 102. Other cross-sectional shapes are believed suitable for a rib-shaped engaging head 104, including rectangular cross-sections (including a square cross-section), curved cross-sections, and triangular cross-sections with acute angles to form sharp catches that do not disengage and release the mated latch parts 104, 108.

Female latch part 102 a extends circumferentially into a distal edge of locking tab 32 a on a second side of the sleeve half 20 a. The latch part 106 is shown as an engaging recess 108 formed in the retaining having a wall configured to engage the engaging head 104 when the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are mated together for use. In the depicted embodiment, the engaging head is a bar extending vertically across the width of the male latch part 100 where the bar has a right-triangular cross section, so the engaging recess 108 takes the form of a groove having a right-triangle cross-sectional shape, with the perpendicular leg of the right triangular cross-sections each forming a wall that engage one-another so the male and female latch parts 100, 102, latch together. The engaging recess 108 is sometimes referred to as the catch for engaging latch 104.

The cross-sectional profiles of the engaging head 104 and engaging recess 108 are best seen in the top view of FIG. 10B. As best seen in FIG. 10B, engaging portion 104 of the male latch part 100 preferably is located about 25° of arc forward of the retaining flange 32 a from which the male latch part 100 extends, while the female latch part 102 is located about 15° of arc behind the forward end of the retaining flange 32 a member 32 a in which the engaging recess is formed. Thus, on the sleeve half 20 a, the mating face of the engaging portion 104 is diametrically opposite the mating, engaging face of engaging recess 106. The female latch part 102 is on the same side of the sleeve part 20 a as is the locking tab 34.

The sleeve part 20 b (FIGS. 4 and 7-9) is the same as sleeve part 20 a, except rotated 180° about longitudinal axis 18, so the parts 100 b, 102 b, 104 b, 106 b and 108 b are as described on sleeve part 20 a—but orientated half-a-turn about axis 18 different, and are not described again but are shown in FIGS. 4, and 7-8.

As best seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, two sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are rotated about axis 18 to face each other and then moved laterally together to engage each other. Locking tab 34 a on sleeve half 20 a fits into locking recess 34 b on sleeve half 20 b, while locking tab 34 b on sleeve half 20 b fits into locking recess 34 a. Retaining flange 32 a abuts retaining flange 32 b on each side of the coupled sleeves 20. Male latch part 100 a on sleeve half 20 a engages female latch part 102 b on sleeve half 20 b, while male latch part 100 b on sleeve half 20 b engages female latch part 102 a on sleeve half 20 a to hold the sleeves to the post 12 against lateral separation. As needed, the distal ends 106 of the male latch parts 100 are moved outward to allow the engaging head 104 to slide over the outside of the adjacent retaining flange 32 containing the engaging recess 108. The distal or leading face of the engaging head 104 is preferably inclined to slide over the retaining flange 32. The male latch part 100 resiliently urges the engaging head 104 inward so the engaging head 104 engages the engaging recess 108 in female latch part 108. The engaged male and female latch parts 100, 102, or more precisely the engaged head 104 and engaging recess 108 prevent the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 a from moving laterally apart in a plane orthogonal to the axis 18 of post 12. Thus, the engaged latch parts 100, 102 on the retaining flanges 32 restrain the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b from separating laterally. The lateral separation used herein includes not just separation in the plane orthogonal to axis 18, but separation along at oblique angles relative to the axis 18.

The male and female latch parts 100, 102 are advantageously formed on the upper end portions of the retaining flanges 32 and more preferably formed on the retaining flanges 32 so as to be centered on the middle of the length of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b measured along the longitudinal axis 18. It is believed usable to have the latch parts 100, 102 above or below the middle of the assembled sleeves 20 a, 20 b. Thus, the latch parts 100, 102 may be formed on the retaining flanges 32 opposite the support tabs 30. But it is believed desirable to have the latch parts centered within 15% of the middle of the sleeves and more preferably—centered on the middle of the sleeve parts. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9-10, the latch parts 100, 102 are located in the middle ⅓ of the axial height of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b. It is believed most preferable to have a majority of the vertical height of the latch parts 100, 102 located opposite the space between the outer surface of the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b and the adjacent inside surface of the retaining flanges 32 a, 32 b. The male latch part 100 is shown as having a rectangular cross section along most of its length (except for engaging head 104). The female latch part 102 is recessed into the outer portion of the retaining flange 32 in order to reduce the outward projection of the latch parts 100, 102 when they are engaged (i.e., latched).

The latch parts 100, 102 are shown extending circumferentially at a constant radius from the centerline 18, with the male latch part 100 extending forward of and away from the sleeve part while the female latch part extends rearward, along the body of the sleeve part. As used herein, the relative terms forward and rearward when referring to the latch parts 100, 102 and associated structure, are with respect to each individual sleeve part 22 a, 22 b, relative to sides 110, 112 of each sleeve part. The forward direction is away from and orthogonal to or in a circumferential direction relative to the sides 110, 112 while the rearward direction from toward the sides 110, 112 in an orthogonal or circumferential direction. Thus, the latch 100 extends forward of the face 110 while the female latch parts 102, 108 are rearward of the forward facing side 112.

The circumferential curvature of the male and female latch parts 100, 102 is believed to make it less likely for users to inadvertently snag the distal end 106 of the male latch part 100, but other configurations are believed suitable to achieve the same function. This circumferential curvature is also believed to make it easier for a user to manually engage the distal end 106 and unlatch the engaging head 104 from the engaging recess 108, but other configurations are believed suitable to achieve that same function. In particular, it is believed the latch parts 100, 102 may extend tangential to the outer surface of the sleeve halves 20, or even extend outward at a small angle of a few degrees, say 5-10 degrees, with suitable shaping of the parts allowing secure latching and unlatching of the sleeve halves.

In the depicted embodiment, the engaging latch portions (head 104, recess 108) are located about 15° of arc from the plane through the side faces relative to axis 18, and that is believed suitable to allow the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b to mate together without significant manipulation of the male latch parts 100 a, 100 b. But it is believed that the subtended arc along which the circumferential latch parts 100, 102 extend can be greater than 15-20° because one male engaging head 104 a may be temporarily mated with the corresponding female recess 108 a to form a clam-shell type arrangement that clamps a first sleeve 20 a around a post 12 with the other latch part rotating about the temporarily mated parts 108 a and 104 a so the opposing parts 108 b, 104 b may engage to lock the sleeves 20 a, 20 b to the post. If the latch parts 100 a, 100 b are circumferential then the projecting male engaging head 104 should ride along the outer surface of the retaining flange 32 until it engages the recess 108—even if the male latch parts 100 a, 100 b are longer than the preferred length.

The placement of the latch parts 100, 102 on the retaining flange 32 locates the engaged latch parts 104, 108 radially outward of the tapered outer body of the sleeve halves 20 and that is believed to provide a greater resistance to unlatching of the engaged latch parts 100, 102. The placement of the latch parts 100, 102 on the retaining flange is also believed to make the latch parts more accessible and easier to manipulate for engagement and disengagement of the latch parts. The engagement of the locking tabs 34 with the recesses 36 restrains relative vertical movement of the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b and that allows the axial length of the male engaging head 104 to extend along the entire axial length of the latch parts 100, measured along axis 18. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-10, the male engaging head 104 and female engaging recess extend for about ⅓ the axial length of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b, and thus have an axial engagement length about ⅓ the height of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b. An axial engagement length extending the full axial length of each retaining flange 32 is believed usable. The increased length of the male engaging head 104 allows greater resistance to lateral separation force and provides a stronger resistance to unlatching by lateral forces.

Because the engaging parts 104, 108 use engaging surfaces that are vertically aligned, the latch parts 100, 102 may move vertically relative to each other. But the mating locking tabs 34 and recesses 36 restrain vertical motion of each sleeve half 20 a, 20 b when the tabs 34 and recess 36 are engaged. Thus, the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are held in place on the post 20 by engagement of the sleeve halves, locking tabs 34 and recesses 36, and latch parts 100, 102. By securely latching the sleeve halves to the post 12, the user may exert more substantial forces on the sleeve halves when positioning the shelves—without fear that the sleeve halves will disengage before the shelf and its mating collar parts 16 are interlocked with the support tabs 30 and retaining flanges 34.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, when the two half sleeves 20 a, 20 b fit together the interior surface 22 defines an interior, cylindrical passage sized to encircle and abut against post 12, with the outer surface forming a frusto-conical surface with support tabs 30 and retaining flanges 32 on opposing sides of the sleeve 20. The support tabs 30 a, 30 b of each sleeve 20 a, 20 b abut each other along a substantially vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis 18. The interlocking locking tabs 34 and recesses 36 hold the sleeve halves together and restrain slippage along the generally vertical sides and axis 18. The abutting support tabs subtend a combined arc of about 10° at the bottom of the sleeves 30 a, 30 b and extend about 20 mm along axis 18, while the retaining flanges 32 subtend an arc of about 20° from axis 18, and extend from the bottom of sleeve 30 upward a distance of about 30 mm. These dimensions are for a post 12 having a diameter of about 25 mm, with sleeve 20 made of ABS, for a shelf having a load capacity of about 100 pounds.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the collar parts 16 a, 16 b are configured to mate with the sleeves 20 and squeeze them against the posts 12 as well as fitting into the offset space between the retaining flanges 32 and the sleeves, with the collar parts resting on the tabs 32. The collar parts 16 a, 16 b have a frusto-conical wall, or at least an inside that has a tapered, frusto-conical shape that is narrower in diameter at the top and wider at the bottom. The inclination of the frusto-conical wall is preferably about the same as that of the outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20, or slightly more. Each collar part 16 a, 16 b has substantially straight sides preferably extending along a plane containing longitudinal axis 18 edges. The opposing sides of each collar part 16 may subtend an arc of about 180° or slightly less. These opposing sides may also be referred to as distal sides of each collar part.

Each collar part 16 a, 16 b has a slot 38 with a closed end 40 and two parallel sides 42 extending to and opening toward the bottom of the collar part 16 a, 16 b. The slot is preferably at about the middle of the wall forming the collar part 16, about half way between the opposing, straight sides of the collar part. For the above described sleeve 20 the slot may have a width of about 5-6 mm and a height of about 8 mm, with the collar part having a height of about 40 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm when made of steel. The slot shape and size will vary as needed to conform to the shape of support tabs 30 a, 30 b as the purpose of the slot is to hold the tabs 30 together, preferably tightly together.

The sides 42 of the slot straddle the abutting pair of support tabs 30 with the end 40 of the slot 38 resting on the top of the abutting pair of support tabs 30. Each slot thus straddles two abutting support tabs 30, each of which is on a different sleeve half 20 a, 20 b, so each side 42 contacts a different sleeve half 20 a, 20 b. The sides 42 are shown as straight, parallel and vertical as the abutting pair of support tabs 30 have straight, vertical sides. The sides 42 could be slightly tapered with the spacing narrower at the closed end 40 of slot 38 and further apart at the open end, preferably with the taper being about the same as that of the inclination angle of the frusto-conical wall of collar part 16 a, 16 b, in which case the abutting sides of the support tabs 30 preferably also have a matching inclination.

Likewise the shape of the end 40 of the slot 38 preferably conforms to the shape formed by the top of the pair of support tabs 30 abutting that slot end 40. The wall forming the collar part 16 a, 16 b is sized so that it fits in the offset or gap between the retaining flange 32 and the exterior surface 24 of the sleeve 20 which offset is formed by support tab 30. The slot end 40 may rest against the top of the abutting support tabs 30 a, 30 b while the bottom of the collar part 16 a, 16 b adjacent the slot rest against the lip 33, or the sides of the slot may wedge against the sides of the support tabs 30, depending on the fit of the parts.

The collar 16 may have a collar part 16 a connected to a shelf 14 (FIGS. 1-3 and 6), or a part 16 b connected to a locking end frame (not shown) having a collar part 16 on each end but not connected directly to a shelf. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 11, the collar part 16 b may have a manipulation tab 46 extending outward from the collar part 16 a, 16 b a distance sufficient to allow a user to push on the manipulation tab 46 to install the collar part, or to pull upward on the manipulation tab to release it from the mating sleeve 20. Also, each collar part 16 a, 16 b may be separate, without any connecting frame 44, so each collar 16 may be separately locked in positon.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, in use, the two sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b may be snapped around a vertical post 20 with the locking tabs 34 mating with the locking recesses 30 to hold the parts together against relative vertical movement, with the male latch parts 100 a, 100 b engaging the female latch parts 102 a, 102 b to secure the sleeve halves from lateral separation. The sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are located along the length of post 12 so the rib or ribs 26 a in the sleeve mate with a corresponding groove 26 b in the post at the height or location to which it is desired to fasten the shelf 14. All corners of the shelf 14 are preferably at the same height in order to avoid twisting one or more connections. As needed, the latches 100, 102 may be released to rotate sleeve 20 around the post 12 so each pair of abutting support tabs 30 extends along the direction of a shelf edge or side, pointing toward one of the other corner posts to which the shelf 14 will be attached. A shelf 14 with a collar part 16 a is then mated with the sleeve 20 such that the slot in the collar part 16 a is fit over one pair of abutting support tabs 30 until the bottom 40 of the slot 38 rests on top of the abutting support tabs, or the sides 42 of the slot straddle those abutting support tabs and urge them together, or both, with the body of the collar part surrounding the slot fitting between the retaining flange 32 and the adjacent portion of the outer surface 24 of the sleeve. The other corners of the shelf 14 are similarly attached to other posts 12. That connection leaves one free pair of abutting support tabs 30 extending outward from the sleeve. Another collar part 16 a on a shelf 14 may be similarly attached to that free pair of abutting support tabs. Alternatively, an end frame may be connected in a similar manner with the slot of each collar part 16 fit over the abutting pair of support tabs. As a further alternative, a single collar 16 completely encircling the post may be placed over the free pair of abutting end tabs 30.

The parts may be removed and the shelves taken off the posts 12 by reversing the order of above described steps. Thus, a user may pull upward on the collar part 16 a, 16 b using manipulating tab 46, or pull upward on the locking bar or end frame 44, or pull upward on a shelf 14 to disengage the slot in a collar part from the paired support tabs 30. Once all collar parts 16 a, 16 b are removed from a sleeve 20, the distal end 106 is moved outward to disengage the engaging head 104 from the engaging recess 108 and release the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b for lateral movement so they may be pulled apart and removed from the post.

When a collar part 16 a, 16 b is mated with an abutting pair of support tabs 30 the opposing sides 42 of the slot keep the sleeve halves 30 a, 30 b from separating. A tight fit is preferred between the slot sides 42 and the adjacent and preferably abutting sides of the support tabs 30 a, 30 b. As the end 40 of the slot 38 in the collar part abuts the top of the abutting pair of support tabs 30 or abut the sides of the support tabs and wedge them together, the support tabs support the weight of shelf 14 and items placed thereon, along with whatever weight is supported by the bottom lip 33. As the tapered sides of the collar part 16 a, 16 b mate with the tapered sides of the sleeve 20, each collar part wedges against the sleeve 20 and urges the sleeve toward the post for a frictional grip, and urges the ribs 26 a into mating grooves 26 b. As the weight on the shelf 14 increases the gripping forces on the collar part 16 a, 16 b and sleeve 20 increase through the inclined surfaces of the collar part 16 a, 16 b and sleeve 20. The frusto-conical shaped inner surface of collar parts 16 a, 16 b thus mate with the correspondingly shaped frusto-conical outer surface of sleeve 20 to urge the sleeve against the post 12 during use. The mating parts of the collar parts 16 a, 16 b and sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b advantageously have the same slope or a slight interference fit, with slopes of about 2-10 with 2-5 degrees being preferred suitable and interference fits formed by slopes of 1-3 degrees difference in slope and these fits are used herein to define the preferred mating of these parts. The retaining flange 32 and latch parts 100, 102 help prevent the collar part 16 a, 16 b from slipping off the support tabs 30 and helps prevent the sleeve parts 20 and collar parts 16 a, 16 b from moving laterally in the general plane of the shelf, which is usually horizontal.

Because the sleeves 20 a, 20 b may be snapped onto the post 12 at any suitable location and the collar need not pass along the length of the post in order to connect to the sleeve 20, the shelves 14 may be connected in any order to the posts 12. No bottom-up assembly is required. Shelves may be inserted between two adjacent shelves without removing the upper shelves, with the latch parts 100, 102 holding the sleeves 20 in position until the shelves are connected to the sleeves. The ease of assembly is believed to be superior to prior art designs.

The collars 16 are preferably split collars having first and second parts 16 a, 16 b each of which do not extend more than 180° around the circumference of the posts 12 and preferably extend about 178-179.5° around the circumference of the post. The use of a collar part encircling about 185°-270° of the circumference of the post 12 and sleeve 30 is believed possible, with the other locking collar part encircling the remaining portion of the 360° circumference. If the collar part 16 a, 16 b encircles much more than about 185°-190° of the circumference, then the collar part may no longer be flexible enough to allow opposing sides of the collar part to spread apart to fit around the post 12 from the side, and may require the collar part to be positioned by sliding it axially along the length of the post 12 and axis 18.

The connector 10 can be used in various other types of support systems, such as cabinets, closets, rolling carts, rolling racks and the like, with a shelving system being only one example. Moreover, the connector 10 can be used in conjunction with many shelf embodiments and is not limited to use with a corner of a shelf, or for that matter, a corner of any supported member.

The sleeves 20 a, 20 b may be made of a suitable plastic. ABS, polyethylene and polyurethane are believed suitable. The sleeve halves 20 are preferably molded as a single piece of material to form an integrally molded part, and are preferably molded of a suitable plastic. The posts 12, collar parts 16 a, 16 b and shelves 14 are preferably made of metal, but one or more of them may be made of a sufficiently strong plastic material. Depending on the weight which each shelf 14 or shelving unit is designed to support, the dimensions of parts and material used will vary.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, a simplified shelving unit could include four corner posts 12, at least one and preferably more shelves 14 with collar parts 16 of any type as described herein at each location on the shelf (generally corners) where the shelf is to connect to the post 12. For a rectangular shelf 14 with four collar parts 16 a, 16 b, one at each corner to connect to four posts, two end frames 44 would be needed for each shelf, or four single collar parts 16 a, 16 b for each shelf. A shelving kit may be provided that preferably includes those parts and more preferably includes two, three, four, five or six shelves 14 with corresponding numbers of collar parts 16 a, 16 b on each shelf, and twice the number of end frame connectors 44 as there are shelves (or four times the number of single collar parts 16 a, 16 b), and four times the number of sleeves 20 as there are shelves.

A kit may include the above combination of parts and combinations thereof. Thus, a simple shelving kit may have two shelves 14, which if rectangular in shape have a collar part 16 a of any type described herein at each corner of the shelf. The kit would further include eight sleeves 20 and eight collar parts 16 b of any type described herein that are either separated, or with pairs of collar parts 16 b joined to form end frames 44. Each additional rectangular shelf added to the kit would preferably include four collar parts 16 a, four collar parts 16 b and four sleeves 20. If two shelving units are joined horizontally together by having two shelves 14 with two collar parts 16 a at one end fasten to the same two posts 12, then the number of end frames 44 may be reduced by half, as may the number of single piece collars that completely encircle the post, if such single piece collars are used instead of end frames 44 or individual collar parts 16 b.

The offset provided by extending tabs 30 a, 30 b is sized to form a gap between the locking tab 34 and the adjacent outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20 in order to snugly receive the mating portion of collar part 16 a, 16 b. A very slight interference fit is believed acceptable but undesirable. On the other than, a loose fit is undesirable. Thus a clearance of less than about 1 mm is believed desirable. The offset will vary with the materials of which the parts and shelves are made, and the load to be carried on the shelves and posts. Likewise, the dimensions of the sleeves and parts thereof will vary with the materials and loads to be carried by the parts.

The collar parts 16 a 16 b may be interlocked together to hold them together and clamped to the sleeve 20 to prevent separation of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b and to keep the shelf 14 in position along the axis 18 of the post 12. The interlocking of first and second collar parts 16 a, 16 b to prevent relative movement in the lateral plane to axis 18 is preferably achieved by interlocking means such as a male and female channel lock as shown in FIG. 5, or a slotted interlock as shown in FIG. 11. Other interlocking mechanisms may also be used for interlocking the collar parts.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5C, the channel lock mechanism is formed on the collar parts 16 a′, 16 b′. The collar parts will have mating shapes and oriented in opposing directions along axis 18 during use. Either one of the first and second collar parts 16 a′, 16 b′ could be fastened to the shelf 14 so for ease of reference they are referred to as 16 a′, 16 b′ when describing the first collar part, and referred to as 16 b′, 16 a′ when describing the second collar part. The first collar part is preferably the one connected to the shelf 14 during use.

The depicted channel lock mechanism has an axially elongated outwardly extending male projection 50, shown as a flange on a first collar part 16 a′, 16 b′. The flange 50 extends along an axial length of each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 a′, 16 b′ on which it is located, joining the typically curved exterior body of the collar part 16 a′, 16 b′ along juncture 49. The flange 50 preferably extends radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis 18 during use so the flange 50 is parallel with the axis 18. The flange 50 is preferably short in the outward direction. As used herein, the outward direction means away from the longitudinal axis 18 when the parts are in their use configuration. The first collar 16 a′, 16 b′ has two flanges 50, one extending along each of the opposing distal ends of the collar and forming juncture 49 with the collar.

The male flange 50 is received in a female channel 52 configured to enclose the sides and distal edge of the flange 50. The female channel 52 is connected to the second collar part, 16 b′, 16 a′. The depicted channel 52 has a cross-sectional shape that has a “U” shaped cross section with two outwardly aligned and preferably parallel sides 54 a, 54 b (FIG. 5C) joined by a distal edge 56 . A different one of the male flanges 50 fit inside a different one of the female channels 52 as shown in the figures, to interlock the parts.

In use, the first collar part 16 a′, having male flange 50 is preferably fastened to the shelf 14 and the collar part 16 a′ is slid downward onto the sleeve 20 latched onto a post 12 by latch parts 100, 102, so the slot 38 and slot sides 42 and slot end 40 in the collar part 16 a′ engage two support tabs 30 on different sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b to hold them together and preferably also rests on the lip 33 of the sleeve parts. The second collar part 16 b′ is then placed along axis 18 and moved axially downward so the female channel 52 slides over the male flange 50 and also the slot 38 engages the two support tabs 30 of the two joined sleeve portions to hold them together and preferably also rests on the lip 33 of the sleeves. If the shelf 14 is connected to the second collar part 16 b′ that contains the female channel 52, the assembly sequence is the same except that after the second collar part 16 b′ connects the shelf 14 to the post, then the first collar part is moved along axis 18 to slide the male flange 50 into the female channel 52.

The male flange 50 and female channel 52 described herein provide interlocking collar means for restraining relative movement of the collar parts 16 a′, 16 b′ in the lateral plane of the shelving, or in a plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use, or in the lateral direction relative to the shelving 14 or post 12. The loop formed by the tab 46 is preferably large enough so a person's fingertip can fit through loop between the collar part 16 and the tab. The legs of the wire loop are preferably aligned with the longitudinal axis 18, and may extend along that axis in either direction as shown in FIGS. 20a and 20 h.

Referring to FIGS. 11A-11B, a further embodiment of a slotted interlock mechanism is shown to interlock the collar parts 16 a 16 b together to hold them clamped to the sleeve 20 to prevent separation of the sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b and to keep the shelf 14 in position along the axis 18 of the post 12. The first collar part 16 a″ has a frusto-conical body with a flange 60 extending outward from each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 a″. The frusto-conical body part 16 a has a larger diameter lower edge and a smaller diameter upper edge. The flange 60 extends along a length of each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 a″ with juncture 59 extending along the transition between the curved and preferably semi-circular body portion of the collar part and the outwardly extending flange 60. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the bottom portion of the collar part 16 a″ along juncture 59 and opens onto the lower end of the collar part 16 a″. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two flanges 50 and extends along axis 18 during use. A closed-end slot 62 extends along a length of the normal juncture 59 of the flange 60 to the side of distal edge of the collar part 16 a″ to which the flange 60 is connected. In the depicted orientation the slot 62 extends upwardly. The slot 62 preferably extends about half the axial length of the collar part 16 a″, but may extend shorter or longer, preferably varying within about 15% of the length of the collar part 16 a″.

The slot 62 separates a portion of the flange 60 from the collar part 16 a″ to form a free end 64 on the flange 60, with the base of the flange 60 being connected to the collar part 16 a″. An outwardly extending flange 60 extends outward from each diametrically opposing side of the base portion 66 along a juncture 69 between the flange 60 and the curved, preferably semi-circular body portion of the collar part. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the bottom portion 66 and opens onto the lower end of the collar part 16 a″. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two flanges 60 and extends along axis 18 during use. The flanges 64 extend past the location of the longitudinal axis centerline 18 during use. The slot 62 extends from the top toward the bottom of the collar part 16 a″ to separate the top flange 64 from the upper portion 68. In particular the slot 62 aligns with the juncture 59 of the outwardly extending flange 76 and separates the flange 60 from the curved body portion of the collar par 16 a″ while the juncture 59 connects the bottom of the flange to the collar part. The first collar portion 16 a″ with upward slots 62 is connected to a shelf 14 and orientated so the larger diameter of the conical shape of the collar portion 16 a″ is downward and the smaller diameter is at the top during use so as to mate with and wedge sleeve 20 against post 12 during use.

The second collar portion 16 b″ has a frusto-conical body with a flange 50 extending outward from each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 b″. The frusto-conical body has a larger diameter lower edge and a smaller diameter upper edge so that when it interlocks with first collar portion 16 a″ the conical shape is larger at the lower end and smaller at the upper end. A flange 70 extends outward, preferably radially outward, from each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 b″. The flange 70 extends along a length of each side or distal edge of the collar part 16 b″, preferably along substantially the full axial length of the side or distal edge forming the juncture 69 with the curved and preferably semi-circular body portion of the collar part. The slot 72 aligns with the juncture 69 of the outwardly extending flange 70 and separates the flange 74 from the curved body portion of the collar part 16 b′ while the attached portion of juncture 69 connects the flange 74 to the body part.

A closed-end slot 72 extends along a length of the normal juncture 69 of the flange 70 to the side of distal edge of the collar part 16 b″ to which the flange 70 is connected. In the depicted orientation, the slot 72 extends downward. The slot 72 separates a portion of the flange 70 from the collar part 16 b″ to form a free end 74 on the flange 70, with the base of the flange 70 being connected to the collar part 16 b″. Each collar part 16 b″ thus has a bottom portion 78 and a top portion 76 each with a frusto-conical inner surface and preferably a parallel frusto-conical exterior surface. An outwardly extending flange 70 extends outward from each diametrically opposing side of the top portion 76 along juncture 69. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the top portion 76 and opens onto the top end of the collar part 16 b″. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two flanges 70 and extends along axis 18 during use. The flanges 74 extend past the location of the longitudinal axis centerline 18 during use. The slot 72 extends from the top 76 toward the bottom 78 of the collar part 16 b″ to separate the flange 74 from the bottom portion 78 while the remaining portion of juncture 69 connects the flange 74 to the body part.

The second collar portion 16 b″ is used to lock the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b together and to interlock with the first collar portion 16 a″. The second collar portion 16 b″ may be used independently, or a different collar portion 16 b″ may be connected to each opposing end of end frame 44 to interlock a pair of first collar portions 16 a. The second collar part 16 b″ is orientated so the larger diameter of the conical shape of the collar portion 16 b″ is downward and the smaller diameter is at the top during use so as to mate with and wedge sleeve 20 against post 12 during use and to interlock with the first collar part 16 a″ to form a frusto-conical structure encircling a split sleeve 20 to clamp it against the post 12 during use.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 11A-11B, in use two sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b are is positioned on a post 12 and the latch parts 100, 102 engaged to hold the sleeve on the post. The first collar part 16 a″ connected to a shelf 14 is positioned above the sleeve 20 and moved along the post 12 and axis 18 so the slot 38 fits over support tabs 30 and inside the retaining flange 32 to hold the sleeve parts 20 a, 20 b together and to support the collar part on the sleeve. The second collar part 16 b″ is positioned above the first collar part 16 a″ and moved downward so the slots 62, 72 pass through each other and over the junctures 69, 59 of the other part and interlock the flanges 60, 70. The juncture 59 of the base portion 66 and a different flange 60 fits into each of the slots 72 and the juncture 69 of the top portion 76 and a different flange 70 fits into each of the slots 62. Each flange 70 abuts a different flange 60, with a free end 74 facing and preferably abutting against the portion of flange 60 joined to base portion 66, and with free end 64 facing and preferably abutting against the portion of flange 70 joined to top portion 76.

The joinder of collar part 16 a″ to shelf 14 cooperate with flanges 60, 70 to prevents rotation of the collar parts about axis 18 during use as flanges 60, 70 abut to restrain rotation about axis 18 during use as well as to prevent lateral movement during use. The flanges 60, 70 and flange 50 and channel 52 abut each other and when connected to sleeve 20 and post 18, restrain rotation in the plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use, and provide means for restraining rotation about an axis in the plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use. The interlocking of first and second collar parts 16 a, 16 b by the flanges 15 mating with the U-shaped channel 52, and the interlocking of the collar parts by flanges 60 and 70 and interlocking slots 62, 72, provide interlocking collar means for interlocking the collar parts and preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts, in a plane transverse to axis 18 of post 12 during use.

The collar parts 16 a, 16 b, 16 a′, 16 b, 16 a″ and 16 b″ are preferably made of sheet metal that is of substantially uniform thickness and then cut and bent to the desired shape and typically connected to metal shelves 14 by molten metal joining techniques such welding, soldering, brazing etc. The collar parts could be made of suitably strong molded plastics and connected to shelves 14 by adhesives or suitable mechanical connections, or the parts could be integrally molded with plastic shelves, formed at the same time and as a unitary part with the plastic shelves.

The sleeve parts 20 are single pieces with no movable parts and may thus be integrally molded in one pour of material, preferably plastic. A single sleeve part 20 that encircles half a cylindrical post 12 may be used with an identical sleeve part to encircle the cylindrical post and latch the sleeve parts around the encircled post. The use of a single part configuration for the sleeve parts makes it simpler to manufacture and assemble the sleeve parts to the post. The use of a single sleeve part 20 reduces confusion during assembly and reduces errors in allocating the correct number of parts to packaged shelving kits and shelving units. The positive latch and strong latch achieved by the outwardly located latching parts 100 securely holds the sleeves to the post during assembly of the shelving units. Releasing either of the two male latch parts 100 a, 100 b can release both sleeve parts from the post and thus makes it easy to move the sleeves and mating shelves, and makes it easy to disassembly the shelves.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, a further description of the two sleeve halves 20 a, 20 b is provided in order to further clarify the interconnection of the two sleeve parts having the same shape but different orientation. Each sleeve part 20 a, 20 b has (two) inward extending ribs 26 a, has two support tabs 30, two retaining flanges 32, one locking tab 34, one locking recess 36, one male latch part 100 with distal end 106 and male engaging head 104, and one female latch part with engaging recess 108. Each support tab 30 extends from a different side 110, 112 of the sleeve half 20, with the opposing, first and second sides 110, 112 being in substantially the same vertical plane through axis 18 during use. When the sleeve half 22 a of FIG. 12A is rotated about longitudinal axis 18, to form the sleeve half 22 b as shown in FIG. 12B, then the male latch part 100 on each sleeve half 22 aligns with and can mate with female latch part 102 on each sleeve half, when side 110 a abuts side 112 b and side 112 a abuts side 110 b to form the cylindrical passage through the center of the mated sleeve halves through which the post 12 extends during use. The engaged latch parts 100, 102 resist separation of the latch parts in the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 18.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleeve for a shelving unit having a collar that wedges the sleeve against a post of the shelving unit during use in order to position the sleeve and collar part along a length of the post, the post having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface with a plurality of grooves encircling the post and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising: a first sleeve half having a top and bottom and first and second opposing sides that are in substantially the same plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis during use, the first sleeve half further comprising: a cylindrical interior surface with at least one inwardly extending, first circumferential rib, the cylindrical surface configured to abut the post and encircle about half of the post during use with the rib configured to fit into one of the grooves in the post during use; a frusto-conical exterior surface on the first sleeve half; first and second support tabs extending radially outward a short distance at the respective first and second sides, at the bottom of the first sleeve half; first and second retaining flanges, each extending upward from a different one of the respective first and second support tabs and along the exterior surface of the first sleeve half and offset therefrom by the support tab from which the retaining flange extends; a first male latch part extending from the first retaining flange and extending forward of the first side, the first latch part having a distal end and having a male engaging head intermediate the distal end and the first side; and a second female latch part in a rearward portion of the second retaining flange, the second latch part having an engaging recess configured to receive the male engaging head during use and restrain relative movement of the first and second latch parts when they are engaged.
 2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the first latch part extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and extends from a top portion of the first retaining flange and wherein the second latch part is formed in a top portion of the second retaining flange.
 3. The sleeve of claim 2, wherein the male engaging head comprises a rib parallel to the longitudinal axis during use.
 4. The sleeve of claim 3, wherein the rib extends across a height of the first latch part measured along the longitudinal axis, and has a cross-sectional shape of a right triangle, with the short leg of the right triangle oriented substantially radially.
 5. The sleeve of claim 3, further comprising a locking tab extending forward from the first side and located at least partially above the first support tab, and further comprising a locking recess in the second side located at least partially above the second support tab and configured to receive the locking tab.
 6. The sleeve of claim 5, further comprising a locking tab extending forward from one of the first and second sides and located at least partially above the support tabs, and further comprising a locking recess in the other of the first and second sides, the locking recess located above the support tabs and configured to receive the locking tab.
 7. The sleeve of claim 6, further comprising: a second sleeve half having a top and bottom and first and second opposing sides that are in substantially the same plane and parallel to the longitudinal axis during use, the second sleeve half further comprising: a cylindrical interior surface with at least one inwardly extending, second circumferential rib, that cylindrical surface being configured to abut the post and encircle about half of the post during use with the second circumferential rib configured to fit into one of the grooves in the post during use; a frusto-conical exterior surface; first and second support tabs extending radially outward a short distance at the respective first and second sides of the second sleeve half, at the bottom of the second sleeve half; first and second retaining flanges extending upward from the a different one of respective first and second support tabs of the second sleeve half and extending along the exterior surface of the second sleeve half and offset therefrom by the support tab from which the retaining flange extends; a first male latch part extending from the first retaining flange and extending forward of the first side of the second sleeve half, the first latch part having a distal end and having a male engaging head intermediate the distal end and the first side of the second sleeve half; a second female latch part in a rearward portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve half, that second latch part having an engaging recess configured to receive the male engaging head of the first latch part of the first sleeve half during use and restrain relative movement of the first and second latch parts when they are engaged. wherein the first male latch part of the first collar part is configured to engage the first female latch part of the second collar part when the first and second collar parts abut the post during use, and wherein the first female latch part on the first collar part is configured to engage the first male latch part of the second collar part when the first and second collar part abut the post during use.
 8. The sleeve of claim 7, wherein the second male latch part of the second sleeve half extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and extends from a top portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve half, and wherein the second latch part of the second sleeve half is formed in a top portion of the second retaining flange of the second sleeve half.
 9. The sleeve of claim 7, further comprising a lip extending outward from the bottom of each sleeve half:
 10. A shelving joint using the sleeve of claim 7, further comprising: an annular collar having first and second separable and interlocking collar parts defining a frusto-conical interior passage extending along the longitudinal axis when joined together, the interior passage sized to engage the outer surface of the first and second sleeve halves during use, each collar part extending about half way around the longitudinal axis, each collar part having a top and bottom with the bottom forming a larger diameter of the conical interior passage, with a closed ended slot extending through each collar part and extending along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom of each collar part, each closed ended slot located and configured to engage a different one of the locking tabs on each of the first and second sleeve halves during use, one of the collar parts being connected to a shelf.
 11. The shelving joint of claim 10, wherein the interlocking collar parts comprise a male flange having opposing sides and extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the first collar part and extending along a substantial length of each collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each male flange having a thickness T between opposing sides of the flange and extending outward a distance between about 3 T and 10 T; and a female channel extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extending along a substantial length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each female channel having an open bottom configured to slidably receive a different one of the male flanges during use, each female channel extending along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use.
 12. The shelving joint of claim 10, wherein the interlocking collar parts further comprise interlocking means on each of the first and second collar parts for preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis during use, one of the collar parts being connected to a shelf. 